Before we get to the analysis, though, it's important to make the following general points about sports numbers:

College statistics -- whether we are talking about softball, baseball, or basketball -- provide a good measure of how productive a player was in college.

Professional statistics -- whether we are talking about softball, baseball, or basketball -- provide a good measure of how productive a player is professionally.

However, productivity in college does not guarantee productivity in the professional ranks. Professional competition is better than college competition. So, college numbers tell us something. They just don't tell us everything.

In addition to this disclaimer, let's also note -- for those not familiar with the NPF -- the teams that currently comprise the league. As one can see, the NPF is an international sports league; perhaps the most international sports league based in North America.

USSSA Pride (regular season champion in 2017, three-time league champion)

Beijing Shougang Eagles (joined league in 2017, comprised of both Chinese and American players)

Aussie Spirit (expansion team in 2018, comprised of players from Australia and the United States)

Once again, there were 23 players selected in the draft by these five teams. Of these, 13 were pitchers and 10 were positional players. Obviously pitchers were the focus of the draft, so we will begin the review of the draft with these players.

The players are ranked in terms of lowest FIP (a measure of performance -- detailed in Sports Economics -- that separates the pitcher from her fielders). As one can see, the players were not selected according to this measure. But as one can also see -- since the average college pitcher has an ERA and FIP above 3.00 -- all of these pitchers are very good.

Most of these pitchers come from the SEC, Big 12, or ACC. However, in terms of the numbers, Randy Rupp form Texas State has been the best across the last two seasons. Rupp is coached at Texas State by Cat Osterman, one of the greatest softball pitchers of all time. Of course, that doesn't mean Rupp will become Osterman. But being coached by Osterman certainly can't hurt.

The top pick in the draft was Paige Lowary, a relief pitcher from Oklahoma selected by the Bandits. According to FIP she hasn't been quite as good as her teammate Paige Parker, taken 6th by the Pride. One should note, though, that the difference in the numbers is not very large. And as Angus notes, the Bandits needed a closer and Lowary is dominant.

Again, all these pitchers were not much different in college (all were very good). When we turn to the position players we see a larger difference in college performance. Of course, we are only looking at each player's hitting performance. Whether or not they are good in the field as infielders (INF), outfielders (OF), or catchers (C), is not considered here (but was considered by the NPF teams).

When we look at the hitting data, DJ Sanders of Oregon -- taken 21st by the Bandits -- leads this group in both OPS and RCAP. We should note, though, that in 2018 Vanessa Shippy has been especially amazing. Back in March, Graham Hays of ESPNW noted that Shippy's on-base-percentage in 2018 was above 0.700. As Hays noted, since 2008 only two players completed a season in a major conference and finished with an on-base-percentage above 0.700. Since this article appeared Shippy did see her on-base-percentage slip below this mark. Nevertheless, in 2018 she posted better numbers than any other hitter selected.

So, the numbers suggest the future is bright for the Kosar and the Comets. But again, the numbers are only making a suggestion. The talent these players will face in the NPF is better than anything they have seen so far in college. Until these players face that talent we can't be sure which of these selections was right (or wrong).

I am a professor of economics at Southern Utah University who has spent the last two decades researching sports and economics. I am the lead author of "The Wages of Wins" (Stanford Press, 2006) and "Stumbling on Wins" (Financial Times Press, 2010). In addition, I am the so...